Can punch



May 13, 1958 A. E. WOOD 2,834,103

CAN PUNCH Filed Aug. 12, 1957 II'I'III." G

Arthur E, Wood INVENTOR.

United States Patent 9 CAN PUNCH Arthur E. Wood, Pendleton, Ind. Application August 12, 1957, Serial No. 677,442 5 Claims. (Cl. 30-61).

This invention relates generally to a can opener, and more specifically to a can opener adapted to accommodate cans of various heights and diameters.

Therefore, a primary object of this invention is to provide a can opener which is easily adjustable to accommodate cans of various heights, and also has means to open the cans which are adjustable so as to be able to open cans of various diameters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a can opener which can be adjusted to various size cans very quickly and easily.

A further object of this invention is to provide a can opener which may be easily attached to a supporting surface so that the can opener may which makes it easy to reach.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a can opener of such utility that it may either punch openings in cans, or remove the top completely. Still other objects reside in the ease of operation, and inexpensive construction which adapt it for mass production.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the can opener which is the subject of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane defined by reference line 2-2 of Figure 1, illustrating the method of adjusting the height of the handle;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 33 of Figure 2, and illustrating the details of construction for slidingly securing the handle to the slot; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane defined by reference line 4-4 of Figure 2. and illustrating the details of construction of the opener slide.

The numeral generally designates the can opener of the present invention. This can opener consists of a base 12, an upstanding bracket 14 and a handle 16 which slidingly secured to the bracket 14.

The base 12 is formed of a flat rectangular shaped bar. A can to be opened will be supported on the bar 12.

Secured to one end of the bar 12 and extending upwardly therefrom is a bracket 14. This bracket is of a generally L-shape composed of two legs 18 and 20, re spectively. The leg 13 fits fiat against one edge of bar 12 and extends upwardly and perpendicularly therefrom. A number of holes 22 are formed in leg 18 and, looking at Figure 2, it can be seen that these holes 22 are of a generally frusto-conical shape so as to allow screws 24, passing through these holes, to be countersunk in said leg 18 enough to allow the heads of screws 24 to be flush :with of .lii to present a smooth surface. The

surface screws 24 may be used to secure the opener 10 to any suitable surface 26, as, for example, a kitchen wall.

A second leg 20 of the L-shaped bracket 14 is attached to leg 18 and at a angle therewith. The bottom of this leg 20 extends flat along one side of bar 12 and extends upwardly and perpendicularly therefrom. In leg 20 is formed a vertical longitudinally extending slot 28 along the outer end of leg 20. A row of outstanding pegs 36 is secured to leg 29 in spaced longitudinal relationship, which is spaced from and parallel to the slot 28. The handle 16 is slidably secured in the slot 28 in a manner to be describedherewith. Handle 16 is composed generally of a longitudinally extending bar 32. This bar has a transversely extending opening 34 formed therein. A pin 36 having a shank 38 with an opening formed through one end, and a head 40 attached to the other end, is passed through the opening 34 and extends out of slot 28. On the extending portion of the shank and on the opposite side of leg placed a washer 42, and a cotter key 44 is passed through the opening formed in one end of the shank 38 so as to secure the pin 36 and thus handle 16 into the slot 28. On the same end of the bar 32 as the opening 34 is located, is formed a groove v46 which is formed for the purpose of adapting the handle 16 to be pivoted about one of the pegs 30.

It is to be here noted that while the means for opening a can described below will be a plurality of punches, various size tools can be used. In fact, any shape may be used also, for instance, a curved blade so that the openerwill be adapted to completely remove the top of a can. A vertical opening 48 is formed in bar 32. Into this opening is thrust a pointed punch 56 which has a shank portion 52 which is inserted into opening 43. 'Outwardly spaced from opening 58 is a bore 54 which extends trans versely into the bar 32 and this bore 54 is internally threaded. A tube-shaped slide 56 slidingly encircles bar 32. This slide has a second punch 58 secured thereto. On the lateral edge of slide 56 a slot 60 is formed. A- bolt having a knob head 62 and a threaded shank 64 extends through the slot 6i and into opening 54. I It can now be seen that the slide 56 is adjustable on rod 32, and so punch 58 is also adjustable. The slide may be locked into position by merely tightening up on the head of bolt 62 and thus locking the slide 56 in place. The threaded shank portion 64 of the bolt acts as a limiting stop with respect to the ends of slot 60, and thus limits the movement of slide 56 on rod 32. V

In use, a can to be opened will be placed on base 12. Then the handle 16 would be lifted and tilted upwardly to the position shown in phantom lines in Figure 2. The operator would then slide the handle 16 up or down, depending on the height of the can to be opened, so that the groove 46 on the handle is a little below one of the pegs 39 which corresponds approximately in height to the can. Then the handle would be brought down to the horizontal position shown in solid lines in Figure 2 so that the groove 46 would contact and pivot about one of the pegs 30. It is now necessary to adjust the slide 56 so that punch 58 will be a proper distance from punch 50 to form two openings in a can, one for pouring out the liquid and the other for venting air into the can. The outer portion of handle 16 is then forced downwardly so that the punches 5i) and 58 puncture the top of the can. Slot 28 is wider than shank 38 so as to provide a loose fit and allow the handle to be pivoted about one of the pegs 39. It is to be here noted can be used on the handle spirit of the present invention. In fact, a pointed blade which is slightly curved could be used and after the handle 16 is forced downwardly into the can, it is merely necessary to turn the can so as to cut the top of the can Patented May 13, 1958 20 from the handleis that any size or shape punch without departing from the around its outside perimeter until the top is completely loose from the can.

It can now be seen that I have invented and described above a can opener which is quickly and easily adjusted and used and of a very simple construction.

The foregoing is considered only as illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A can opener comprising a base for supporting cans to be opened, a bracket mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, one leg of said bracket having apertures therein adapting said opener to be attached. to a supporting surface, the other leg of said bracket having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, pegs mounted on said other leg in spaced longitudinal relation to each other so as to form a row, said rowbeing in spaced parallel relation to said slot, a handle slidably mounted in said slot in opposing relation to said base, one end of said handle being adapted to be pivoted about one of said pegs whereby the height of said handle may be adjusted to accommodate various size cans, a can punch adjustable along said handle whereby when said handle is pivoted about said peg said punch will be inserted into the upper surface of a can so as to form an opening therein.

2. A can opener comprising means for supporting a can to be opened, handle support means connected to said can supporting means having a slot formed therein which is substantially perpendicular to said can supporting means, pegs secured to said handle support means arranged in a row spaced from and parallel to said slot, a can punch, a handle on which said punch is adjustably mounted, said handle being slidingly mounted in said slot in opposition to said can supporting means and being pivotally engageable with one of said pegs whereby said handle may be adjusted in said slot to accommodate various size cans and may be pivoted about one of said pegs so as to force said punch into a can.

3". A can opener comprising a base for supporting cans to beopened, a bracket mounted on said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, one leg of said bracket having apertures therein adapting said opener to be attached to a supporting surface, the other leg of said bracket having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, pegs mounted on said other leg in spaced longitudinal relation to each other so as to form a row, said row being in spaced parallel relation to said slot, a handle slidably mounted in said slot in opposing relation to passing through said 4 said base, one end of said handle being adapted to be pivoted about one of said pegs whereby the height of said handle may be adjusted to accommodate various size cans, a can punch adjustable along said handle whereby when said handle is pivoted about said peg said punch will be inserted into the upper surface of a can so as to form an opening therein, means to slidingly secure said handle in said slot including a pin passing through said handle nearer to one end and projecting through said slot, means to hold said pin in said slot.

4. A can opener comprising means for supporting a can to be opened, handle support means connected to said can supporting means having a slot formed therein which is substantially perpendicular to said can supporting means, pegs secured to said handle support means arranged in a row spaced from and parallel to said slot, a can punch, a handle on which said punch is adjustably mounted, said handle being slidingly mounted in. said slot in opposition to said can supporting means and being pivotally engageable' with one of said pegs whereby said handle may be adjusted in said slot to accommodate various size cans and may be pivoted about one of said pegs so as to force said punch into a can, dream to slidingly secure said handle in said slot including a pin handle near to one end and project'- ing through said slot, means to hold said pin in said slot.

5-. A can opener comprising a base for supporting cans to be opened, a bracket mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, one leg of said bracket having apertures therein adapting said opener to be attached to a supporting surface; the other leg of said bracket having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, pegs mounted on said other leg in spaced longitudinal relation to each-other so as to'forrn a row, said row beinginspaced parallel relation to said slot, a handle slid-ably mounted in said slot in opposing relation to said base, one end of said handle being adapted to be pivoted about one of said pegs whereby the height of said handle may be adjusted to accommodate various size cans, a can punch adjustable along said handle whereby when said handle is pivoted about sairl p'eg said punch will be inserted into the upper surface of acan so as to form an opening therein; means to slidingly secure said handle in said slot including a pin passing through said handle nearer to one end and projecting through said slot, means to hold said pin in said slot, said handle having a grove at one end of the handle adapted to pivotally' engage one of said pegs, saidhandle being pivotable to a position perpendicular to said base wherein said groove is disengaged from one of said pegs so that said handle may slide vertically upwardly or downwardly.

No references cited. 

